Any chance that Rogers and CTV join up again to purchase the rights to Saturday night games together? I don't think they could call it Hockey Night in Canada as CBC owns that name (do they not?)

When Rogers + CTV got the rights to the 2010 games, it was amazing. Something like 6 to 8 different channels broadcasting various sports instead of the single channel CBC showing Canada what they (CBC) thought we wanted to see.

As far as CBC is concerned, they can simply buy rights to another night, call it HNIC and keep the same crew.

CBC has Hughson under exclusive contract until the end of this season....Sadly, he'll never come back to regional broadcasts, he is too widely-regarded as the best in the biz and SN Pacific can't compete with whoever the new national broadcaster is.

I've never forgiven CBC for not picking up that Canucks-Boston game for a national broadcast. It was so astoundingly short-sighted, and ended up being one of the best reg season games of the year. And it was all because they didn't want to use up on of their national broadcast game rights on a Vancouver game with the most intriguing storylines of any game we've seen in ages.

That being said, TSN will do no better - remember the intermission coverage of the Leafs' 4th line changes during the Sharks-Canucks series this year?

I'd love to see an NFL model, where national games are projected to reward the best teams, and crap franchises don't get them handed to them. That is key to growing the game - ensuring the best product gets the best promotion. Sadly, CBC and likely TSN will be able to get by with just regurgitating more Leafs garbage and promoting the worst franchise of the past decade, and still make a pile of money.

darren wrote:For those who aren't familiar with territory east of the Rockies.Population of Ontario: 13mPopulation of people in the Eastern time zone: 21mPopulation of BC (and in the Pacific Time Zone): 4m

If there are national broadcasts, they will be of the Leafs, and they will be on at 4pm. Forever and ever, amen, no matter who has the rights.

Population of quebec: 8mPopulation of ottawa: 900kPopulation of alberta: 3.6m

Even though location doesn't perfectly align with allegiance, there's an argument that having national games always being with the leafs is short-sighted (potentially missing on a fan base drawn from 16m people). If you're never bringing them the content they want, they'll never watch the show. Its keeping the hockey pie artificially small and effectively turning a national broadcast into a regional one. Frankly it's a bit of a waste.

At least the (highly imperfect) CBC is not legally required to produce profits for the shareholders in its operation. Nor does it suffer from the intense vertical integration of the large media companies in this country (i.e. the CBC does not own the lines, the channel and the programing (and the hockey team)).

Just to be clear, I'm not a big HNIC guy. But, I can see the value in HNIC staying with the national public broadcaster. I mean heck, Rogers and Bell OWN the Leafs.

At least the (highly imperfect) CBC is not legally required to produce profits for the shareholders in its operation. Nor does it suffer from the intense vertical integration of the large media companies in this country (i.e. the CBC does not own the lines, the channel and the programing (and the hockey team)).

Just to be clear, I'm not a big HNIC guy. But, I can see the value in HNIC staying with the national public broadcaster. I mean heck, Rogers and Bell OWN the Leafs.

A coin has two sides. Since CBC is not legally required to produce profits, they care less about what their audiences like. They just do whatever the stupid directors like, who might be Leafs fans to begin with... On the other hand, TSN and Sportsnet need to make a profit by broadcasting the most profitable programming, they will do what their audiences like. If Leafs games are more profitable in the East, I care less they broadcast them 24 hours a day. It would be hard to imagine that the Leafs games will generate the same interest as a local team like the Canucks or the Flames in the West. Even if so, that is at least market driven decision instead of some idiots sitting in the Toronto office making the calls for everyone else in the West.

At least the (highly imperfect) CBC is not legally required to produce profits for the shareholders in its operation. Nor does it suffer from the intense vertical integration of the large media companies in this country (i.e. the CBC does not own the lines, the channel and the programing (and the hockey team)).

Just to be clear, I'm not a big HNIC guy. But, I can see the value in HNIC staying with the national public broadcaster. I mean heck, Rogers and Bell OWN the Leafs.

A coin has two sides. Since CBC is not legally required to produce profits, they care less about what their audiences like. They just do whatever the stupid directors like, who might be Leafs fans to begin with... On the other hand, TSN and Sportsnet need to make a profit by broadcasting the most profitable programming, they will do what their audiences like. If Leafs games are more profitable in the East, I care less they broadcast them 24 hours a day. It would be hard to imagine that the Leafs games will generate the same interest as a local team like the Canucks or the Flames in the West. Even if so, that is at least market driven decision instead of some idiots sitting in the Toronto office making the calls for everyone else in the West.

Because there has never been any problems with market driven decision-making...anyways the CBC still have to try to turn a profit they just aren't under threat of law suit if they don't.

My concern is more that you won't hear a peep about the Canucks except for game time, because it simply isn't good for business and I don't mean business in the general sense, I mean business in the sense that both SN and TSN's parent companies own a portion of the Leafs/Raptors.

Also, it certain would raise the odd eyebrow when you consider the weight CBC (and other TV networks) currently have when it comes to scheduling. Imagine if the owners of the Leafs having even more say when it comes to the schedule and how favourable it may be for certain teams.

Mondi wrote:Because there has never been any problems with market driven decision-making...anyways the CBC still have to try to turn a profit they just aren't under threat of law suit if they don't.

My concern is more that you won't hear a peep about the Canucks except for game time, because it simply isn't good for business and I don't mean business in the general sense, I mean business in the sense that both SN and TSN's parent companies own a portion of the Leafs/Raptors.

Also, it certain would raise the odd eyebrow when you consider the weight CBC (and other TV networks) currently have when it comes to scheduling. Imagine if the owners of the Leafs having even more say when it comes to the schedule and how favourable it may be for certain teams.

Let me put it this way, I would not mind seeing more Murphy, Shorthouse and Garret than MacLean and Cherry. I do not care they broadcast zero Canucks games everywhere else besides BC. However, I do care they broadcast the stupid Leafs OT or shootouts over a Canucks game.

darren wrote:For those who aren't familiar with territory east of the Rockies.Population of Ontario: 13mPopulation of people in the Eastern time zone: 21mPopulation of BC (and in the Pacific Time Zone): 4m

If there are national broadcasts, they will be of the Leafs, and they will be on at 4pm. Forever and ever, amen, no matter who has the rights.

Since 2010, Dallas has had 1 MNF game per season. As has Green Bay. The Steelers (14th most valuable) has the same. The New Orleans Saints have had 4 MNF games the past 3 years, and is the 23rd most valuable franchise.

Giving preeminence to the largest/most valuable franchise is not necessary, as the NFL has demonstrated. I believe it is detrimental to the growth of the game, because the best players/best teams/best on-ice product doesn't get showcased, but shitty Leafs teams are rammed down everyone's throats, in spite of being the most futile franchise of the last decade (currently holders of the 5th-longest post-season drought, though Edmonton should change that this year).